I can’t imagine what Deer go through every cycle of the seasons. Spring has to be the toughest. Why? In our parts the winter is long. They are short on food. And lose a lot of weight. Take this young lady for instance. She looks pretty beat up. A long winter and always on the run from those higher on the food chain.

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You can tell by the size of the “rack” of this youngster that he is probably in his third or fourth winter? Sure has that “I am in charge” look about him. But what a wimpy rack.

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As the green fields grow and the spring flowers spread the Deer take on a whole new look. Another summer to eat, grow, mate and enjoy the season.

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Hopefully by end of the Fall season the bucks can look like this Giant. Look at the size of his neck. I took this photograph this last fall. I still remember the exact spot I took this photograph. Though I have posted this before, he still amazes me and I want to share him again.

And I have been staring at the ceiling and walls. First and hopefully only winter cold. I just had to get and today. Grabbed some gear, bundled up and headed out to my “spot”. It didn’t take long to start tracking an American Kestral. For many years I have captured some fun photo’s of these hyper hunters. This time of year they pretty much will land on several of the same spots and watch for little critters. To day a rock and rebar was a couple of lookout spots.

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In the very cold winter they are a little more tolerant of cars and photographers that stay in their cars. Of course it helps when shooting with a 600mm lens.

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When leaving the island I always look for the BIG guys. Today I was lucky! Had to stop real fast grab my 80-400 lens while driving and shooting. Then this huge buck stopped long enough for me to barely fit him in the photo. Of a dozen shots fired in just over a second this is the only one that got the full rack captured! This guy looks a bit like a fullback. What a huge neck!

What to do? Often I sneak out and get a little free time and engage in my passion…… photography.

Early this year the company I work for sold to a relative. A cousin, a niece, a very wealthy individual. A Harvard graduate. A very big deal. The company has done extremely well. What is the future? I don’t know. Sunday morning photography get-aways take me away from these type of questions. I worry and see a dramatic change in how employees are treated. Our new CEO is wonderful. A real people person. But does Harvard not have classes in interpersonal skills? Or employee empowerment, recognition and encouragement? Is the bottom line the only subject taught at Harvard?

A bit of complaining it sounds like. Actually I worry. I work at a level where I see moral at it’s lowest. So indeed I need that quiet time watching critters. Critters have no education and survive only by instinct. What a concept…logic, instinct….

This was my first shot as I approached Antelope Island. The refuge is bare of birds at this time so I make the trip to the island. Tons to see there.

I always check the ‘barn” first. The owl house. The Great Horned Owl was there. High up in the structural elements. Beautiful birds!

Then I travel along the east side creeping along while looking in all directions. Buffalo at most ridges and valleys. This time of year I am looking for the deer buck. The island is known to have some huge bucks. In November they are very active as they are in rut.

Honestly I have been out there several weeks and struck out. But this week. Well I can say is WOW! Gives me a boost to be in nature and get back to my realities.

It really doesn’t matter who owns the company. I am grateful to be employed. It’s their dime to lose. I’ll do as I have always done, exceed expectations and deliver the very best.

The deer this day are focused on their mates. They are also very alert to anything with two legs. It is somewhat tricky to capture them in my camera. Had to do a little crawling and sneaking around bushes. All the shots of the deer are with the 600mm and a 1.7 teleconverter. Obviously they were keeping their distance.

Maybe within the next 6 years I will able to wake and not worry about what ROI, IRR or reduction in benefits will pop up. I do know that my camera gear will be close and ready to assist me with a great getaway.